...Posts Sharing Examples of How the Bible is Still Relevant in Our Lives Today (Posted on Monday and Thursday mornings)

Monday, May 22, 2017

Responding to the Needy, Being More Compassionate to Those Imprisoned, and Does God Tempt Us? posts

Since Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life, is now on line through individual posts, I am now putting several links together for each post. I found groupings of three posts worked well for anyone interested in using these for a Bible study group. Debbie Seiling

After reading forwarded emails telling how people’s lives have been changed by reaching out to someone less fortunate, I am more reflective about my lack of action. When approached by the needy, I have to admit my response has not always been of Christian love to my fellow human beings. This definitely is something I need to work on, being mindful about how I would feel if people ignored and rejected me. I only hope God continues to be patient with me and brings me to the level of brotherly love that He wants us all to show to each other.

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Hebrews, Chapter 13, verse 3.

I need to work on being more compassionate to those who have been imprisoned. It’s easy for me to sit back in my comfortable house and forget about the plight of others less fortunate. I can rationalize that they have made poor choices and have been removed from society as a consequence for these actions. In reality, I’m not sure I agree with that philosophy anymore. Sure, I think rapists, child molesters and mass murders should be kept from returning to society. Often these people get released from prison on parole after a certain amount of time and some therapy, only to rape, molest and kill again. This makes no sense when the prisons are full of other people who have done much less and may never get out. I just don’t understand.

There are people who are in prison indefinitely for stealing food or cigarettes, doing stupid pranks and generally making poor choices. Are these people a threat to society? I’m sure there are some sociopaths who pose a threat, but I think there are many prisoners who would be more help to society on the outside than behind bars.

There is a Bible passage that says: Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. Proverbs, Chapter 6, verses 30-31. God is talking about having him make restitution rather than imprisoning him.

With our country’s financial situation, we can’t afford to hire enough people to clean our parks and waterways, assist the aged, work with the handicapped and provide productive services for the community. These options would allow prisoners to maintain their dignity while making restitution at the same time. It sure beats having people in a penal system where they are more apt to become corrupted by the quantity of negative influences they encounter than to be rehabilitated. Many of those imprisoned have the potential to be productive members of society with some assistance and guidance. (As I said before, I’m not including people who are rapists, molesters and killers in this category.)

It saddens me to think that there is no real equity in the penal system. There are people who were CEO’s for multimillion dollar firms, who embezzled the funds of their company. Many of their co-workers have since lost their jobs, their retirements and their livelihoods because of the impact the embezzlement had on the company’s finances. Often these people don’t go to jail, because they have enough money to hire expensive attorneys. If they do go to jail, it’s for a short amount of time in a swanky prison. They write their memoirs and make a fortune.

It’s sad that the system doesn’t make them make restitution to all those who lost their retirements. Don’t you think it would be an excellent logical consequence if they had to take the royalties from their memoirs to pay for the retirements of those hard workers whose retirement funds had been embezzled?

Then there are minorities who are imprisoned and are doing hard time because they didn’t have a ritzy lawyer defending them for things that pale in comparison. They end up spending a big portion their lives in prisons that could never compare to the swanky ones of those who embezzled millions. This just doesn’t seem equitable to me.

I need to remember to keep prisoners in my prayers, but there may be other things we can do. There are organizations that we could contact that would tell us ways that we could help the families of prisoners. A monumental way we can help is by being willing to hire someone who has formerly been in prison. How are they ever going to support their family and become a productive member of society if no one hires them? We could make a difference in their lives.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. James, Chapter 1, verses 13-16.

It was very interesting for me to read this. Somehow, I was under the impression that God tempted us to test us, but I was wrong. It’s our own sinful human nature that is tempted by things. Our choice to follow these temptations or to turn to God is what makes the difference.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

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Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life

bible-passages.blogspot.com

About the Author:

Having read the Bible from cover to cover 16+ times, I felt led to write Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life to show that the Bible is still significant in our lives today. Since these posts are examples of how I apply the Bible to my daily life, they don't necessarily represent the whole meaning of the Bible passages. Will you relate to these Bible passages in the same ways that I have? My desire is that through these examples, you will learn to relate to the Bible in a way that is personally significant to you!

Book ISBN Numbers

PB: 9781418412180
HB: 9781418412173
eB: 9781418412197

Previous Cover and Pen Name

Links to Other Blogs I Felt Led to Create:

Types of Christians Posts Link

Bible Study: Relating the Bible to YOUR Life!

Easy Bible Study with Examples to Make Bible Connections to Self,Text, World, and Media

Read the Book for Free:

Read Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life for Free! Click on the Archive on 2015 and when you read the posts from 8/3/15 through 9/22/16 , you will have read the complete book. Feel free to share this info with others. P.S. It doesn't really matter if you read the posts out of sequence (top down). Enjoy! Debra Seiling

Free2ShareVBS Link

Free VBS Curriculum

A Christian Caregiver Blog

Trying to Maintain a Focus on Christ's Will While Providing Care for a Parent

Review by Rev. Gordon

Debra Seiling's "Bible Passages" is an interesting book to read. Written in narrative form after reading the Bible multiple times, I did not find Debra's book to be "preachy" or holier-than-thou". While I do not believe Debra's book was intended to be-or will be-used as a textbook, it does contain multiple revelations of one person's assessment and truths with regard to what impact God's Word has had on her life in the past, at present, and as she expects it will in the future. Is the Bible relevant to us in today's world? What Debra Seiling has written in her book, the answer to that question is a resounding: "YES!"

Lilybean's Review

I have been using this book a little differently than just as a reading book. As a daily devotional or study book, it is wonderful. All you have to do is open it up to any page, read the passage and the short narrative and begin your personal study, meditation or group discussion. Because it is written in plain English, it would be perfect for a youth group or high school group. Don't let the lack of sections and headers, or the simple layout dissuade you. It would be a great book to get discussions going for an ice breaker or as a whole study session. Let the author comment, let the Spirit speak to you, and you will find value in this book.

Author's Disclosure

Readers should know that any profits I get from the sale of the book: Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life are donated to a charity of my choice, which varies from time to time. I do not receive any money or compensation from any business and any charity links on my blogs link directly to the charity. I don't feel right getting money for doing what God has led me to do for Him. Debbie